Job’s Tears (薏苡仁, Yi Yi Ren)

Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen · yi yi ren (薏苡仁)

Earth Element · 土

Job’s tears, also called coix seed or yiyiren, is the dried ripe kernel of Coix lacryma-jobi var.

Reviewed by Dr. M. Wu, L.Ac. Updated September 2, 2026

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Taste & Nature

Taste

Sour
Bitter
Sweet
Pungent
Salty

Nature

Hot
Warm
Neutral
Cool

Organ: Spleen, Stomach, Lung
Season: Summer, Autumn

In the Five Flavor system, sweet corresponds to the Earth element. Nourishing, harmonizing, and grounding. Sweet is the most important flavor for daily balance — the foundation of energy and digestion.

Traditional Uses

In traditional Chinese practice:

Simmered with rice into the classic beauty breakfast porridge (yi mi zhou)
Roasted in a dry pan and brewed as weight-management tea (bei chao yi mi cha)
Cooked with red bean (yi mi hong dou tang) for dampness removal
Paired with winter melon in summer cooling soups
Ground into paste as an acne-clearing and brightening face mask

These statements describe traditional usage. They have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

What It Is

What is Job’s Tears?

Job’s tears, also called coix seed or yiyiren, is the dried ripe kernel of Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen. Listed in the 2024 NHC catalog of 106 medicinal-and-edible plants, it is a staple of damp-removing and skin-clearing formulas in traditional Chinese medicine, and a popular beauty grain in modern Chinese cooking.

How to Use

Congee

30-60g of coix simmered with rice into the classic beauty breakfast porridge. Eat it once or twice a week for clearer skin and lighter body.

Roasted coix tea

Lightly roast coix in a dry pan until fragrant, then brew as tea. This roasted version (bei chao yi mi cha) is gentler on the stomach and a popular weight-management drink.

Red bean soup

Cook coix with red beans and rock sugar into the classic damp-removing dessert soup (yi mi hong dou tang). Add winter melon in summer for an extra cooling effect.

Face mask

Grind cooked coix into a paste, mix with honey, and apply as a face mask. Leave on for 15 minutes for a brightening, acne-clearing treatment.

Raw vs. Roasted

Raw coix is slightly cool and best for clearing heat. Roasted coix is warmer and gentler on the stomach, better for people with weak digestion or loose stools. Choose based on your constitution.

How to Choose

Pick plump, white, evenly-sized kernels with no musty smell. Top grades come from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. Store in a sealed container in a cool, dry place; refrigeration extends shelf life.

Cautions

Who should take care

Pregnancy: traditional texts warn coix may stimulate the uterus — avoid in large amounts during pregnancy
Use moderately with qi deficiency with cold or frequent urination
Roasted (chao yi mi) is more warming and gentler on the stomach than raw — choose based on constitution

Where to Find It

Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi provinces produce top-grade coix seeds

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Job’s Tears (薏苡仁, Yi Yi Ren)

Taste & Nature

Traditional Uses

What It Is

What is Job’s Tears?